Nicu Covaci
Nicolae (Nicu) Covaci (born 19 April 1947 in Timişoara, Romania) is a Romanian painter, music composer, best known as the leader of Romanian Rock and cult band Phoenix, for which he is vocalist and guitar player, with more than 40 years of activity.
Biography
Nicolae Covaci was born in Timişoara, on 19 April 1947. He took up playing guitar at the age of 15 and in 1962 he, together with Moni Bordeianu, founded a band called Sfintii (The Saints).
1960s
- 1962: Nicolae Covaci founds the student band "Sfintii" (The Saints) in Timişoara. The band wins second prize at the Bucharest Student Festival. From the very beginning the band is criticized for having a western European influence.
- 1963: The band's recordings of their own compositions first receive radio air play.
- 1965: The Saints are banned. The authorities accuse the band of spreading religious propaganda, and the band is forced to change its name. PHOENIX is born. Under their new name, the band plays three times a week at the School of Engineering cantina, and later at "Lola", the club of the Construction Industry Union in Timişoara.
- 1968: PHOENIX wins the Grand-Prix of the Romanian Festival in Iasi. The band receives its first recording contract and makes regular appearances on radio and TV. PHOENIX releases its first record "Vremuri"(Times), an EP with four songs.
- 1969: The band wins prizes for creativity and interpretation at the Romanian student festival at the School of Architecture in Bucharest. Their second four-song EP called "Floarea stincilor" (The flower of the rocks) is released.
1970s
- 1970: PHOENIX again wins a prize at the Romanian student festival at the School of Architecture in Bucharest- this time for originality.
- 1971: The band changes its style and finds its own direction, inspired by pre-Christian rites and customs of the Balkans. Their third EP "Mesterul Manole" is released with three songs. PHOENIX is invited to play at the "Bratislawa Lyra" and "Sopot" festivals in Czechoslovakia and Poland-the band is a big hit.
- 1972: Cei ce ne-au dat nume (The Ones Who Gave us the Name), the band's first LP is released. After the release of the second LP with the metaphoric title Mugur de fluier (Flute bud) the authorities ban PHOENIX from appearing in Romania.
- 1973: Cantafabule is released. It is their first double LP and a milestone in Romanian music history.
- 1974: PHOENIX plays concerts with the ensemble "The Drummers from Brăneşti", a group of 25 men from a small village in the Carpathians, who play traditional rhythms on different drums.
- Leaving 1976: Nicu Covaci renounces his Romanian citizenship and leaves Romania for Amsterdam. Nicu Covaci founds a new band with musicians of different nationalities.
- 1977: Covaci returns to Romania and helps the members of his band escape. He hides his boys in the Marshall speakers and smuggles them across four borders through half of Europe to Germany.
1980s - the new Phoenix
- 1978: The band breaks up. The band members leave Covaci and try to make it on their own under the name "Madhouse".
- 1981: PHOENIX releases its first production in English, the LP Transsylvania Phoenix. The band disintegrates anew.
- 1983: Nicu Covaci plays with Dzidek Marcinkiewicz as a duo.
- 1986: Nicu Covaci and Erlend Krauser contribute to the production of Evita in Osnabrück.
- 1987: "The Lark" + "Ballade for You". Nicu Covaci contributes to the production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Osnabrück.
- 1988: Release of the single "Tuareg" + "Mr. G's promises".
1990s - Covaci returns to Romania
- 1990: PHOENIX launches a gigantic come-back in Romania. The band raffles off 5000 singles of "Ciocirlia".
Monumental tours in Romania.
- 1992: Nicolae Covaci produces the CD Symphoenix with the Romanian choir "Song" and the Radio Bucharest Symphonic Orchestra.
- 1993: The CD version of Cantafabule is released.
- 1994-1997: Various tours in Romania.
- 1997: The CD Aniversare 35 (35th Anniversary) is released. Vremuri - Anii 60 is released on CD.
- 1998: PHOENIX is going on big Romania-Tour with the mamut-show Cantafabule.
- 1999: Cei ce ne-au dat nume and Mugur de fluier are released on CD.
PHOENIX releases a new 3 song maxi-CD with Numai Una, Iovano, and Ora-Hora and performs November concerts in Germany at "Works" and "Erdbeerblau" in Osnabrück, and in the "Osterfeldhalle" in Esslingen
2000s
- 2000: Spring tour in Romania. For the first time in history, a free CD is given with each ticket purchased. 35,000 Maxi-CDs are given as gifts.
- 2000: The CD In the Shadow of the Big Bear is released. It expresses Nicu Covaci's disappointment with the current situation in Romania.
- 2000: December Germany Tour: In the Shadow of the Big Bear.
- 2001: The CD In the Shadow of the Big Bear sung in English by Malcolm J. Lewis is released.
Baba Novak (2005) A new album, called Baba Novak is released. The guitarist Cristi Gram joins the band in 2004. The release of the album is followed by a tour of the band in many cities of Romania.
Break-up (2007) Following some conflicts between Nicu Covaci and the vocalist of the band, Mircea Baniciu, the latter leaves Phoenix. Soon, the bassist, Ioji Kappl, and the violinist, Mani Neumann, leave the band. While Mani continues his musical activity with his band "Farfarello", in Germany, Mircea Baniciu hooks up with Ioji Kappl and form a new folk duo.
2008 - Back to the Future In 2008, Nicu Covaci re-built up the band, and the new membership of the band include, beside Covaci, Moni Bordeianu (the first vocalist of the band), Bogdan Bradu (vocals), Dzidek Madenkiewic (Keyboard), Volker Vaessen (bass), Ovidiu Lipan Tandarica (Drums) and Cristi Gram (Guitar). The album Back to the Future is recorded, including some songs composed by Moni Bordeianu during the time he was in the USA.
2010 - SymPhoenix The band carries out a new musical project, called Sym Phoenix, with the Symphonic Orchestra of Bucharest. The show had its premiere on 28 April 2010 in Bucharest.
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Covaci, Nicu |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
19 April 1947 |
| Place of birth |
Timisoara |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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